Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-05-13
That Camas Prairie Will
Soon Have a Railroad.
Prepare for thers Good Time
Coming, Boys.
Dear Readers of the FREE Press:

Dear Readers Of the FREE PRESS:
| For the past two weeks I have been
trailing prominent railroad men on a
| still hunt for information as to the
probabilities of railroad development in
the near futurer in this grea. Clearwater
country of ours. The railroad magnates
however, are very reticent on general
principles. and do not divulge their
intentions to outsiders without good
| cause. But wMre could get no posi-
tive or dire ct answer to questions as 10
when railroad construction would begin,
1t was cons oling to know that the sever.
al companies are fully informed as TO
the area. productiweness and possibilities
for development of traffic in our coun-
try, and that it is their intention to
extend their railroad system to i'll as
soon as pract icable. We have assuran-
ances that th~ great Camas prairie and
Clearwater co untry are to be no longer
neglected, AN d with this assurance, a.
present, rest content.
The Union Pacific people will un.
doubtedly be the first to place ne under
tribute to heir system. I learned
enough to knc w that the Lpttle Salmon
route was dete rmined' upon last summer
and that nothi ng gbut a Surveyors report
that the route was impracticable would
prevent Imme diate construction. The
lease of the o. r. 4 N. Co., has. how..y-
natQria1fxr IF fal En
Union Pacific, so'that the Little Salm on
road is no longt " absolutely essential To
complete it's sys ten.. With the cont,pI
of the Columbl a river road and tts,
Snake river steai ners the Union Pacific..
has virtually firner hold upon this
country than tb le old monopoly, and,
hence there is no the urgent necessitvr
for the constr uctit ,n Of feeders that ex-.
listed before the il ASS was consuoated.
AS matter Of fact the IT,. p. would be.
glad to neglect for the epresent the bull
ding of the CaInas ,rsirie branch, but H.
new and power. 'nbs factor in rail-
roading has entere d the field and, in,
urging all other lines to hasty comple--
ton of branch feeders.
This new factor is; the ST.. Paul and
Manitoba road, a pow e7fui combination,
backed by syndicate of $25, 900 600.
this company is now rssing for track
between Fl. Buffer lsA Helena, and
have contracted for 700 n,1les of road to-,
be built this year. From Helena the
road will be continu ed vestwardtto the
Bitter Root valley, and surveys will be
made at an early date of the '-SnoM shoen.
pass over the Bitter Root divide TO the,
Clearwater, and construction will be
continued to Lewiston and Ainsworth.
and possibly down the northern. bank of
the Columbia to tide-water. This mncb..
is authoritative.
The object of the present setivitys off
the Union Pacific people is to head off.
the Manitoba road by occupying. the
best route up the Clearwater from Lew
iston to the prairie, and l am Of the
opinion that the route will be located.
and work commenced this sumnIer..
The Little Salmon route may be post
poned but it will be built as quick as
possible.
The Northern Pacific people seem to.
regard the Clearwater region as out of
their jurisdiction. and it is not probable
that they will endeavor to make it trib-
utary to their trunk line. represented
to them the feasibility of line of
steamers from Ainsworth to Lewiston
and branch line from Lewiston to the
prairie, but the proposition was coldly
received. A.F.P.